Animoto Slideshows

Would you like a slideshow that is a little more animated than that boring powerpoint?  Check this out to see how you can liven up those slideshows!

Robot Graders? Say What!?

Some of you have been asking how the new Common Core Assessments will be graded if it is not multiple choice.  Read this article to see some of their thinking...very interesting.

The robot will bring you where you want to go! Click on him.

Would You Like To Save A YouTube Video?

Many school districts block YouTube (for obvious reasons); however, there are many great resources in which to share with students.  It took a few days to figure it out and a lot of help from some colleagues, but here is the down and dirty...and free way to get what you want.

You have to copy the URL video into the place to paste it, pick a conversion (I chose a wmv. file because it plays on media player) and it will email the link to your email.  You can save it from your email, but I think you only have a day to do it or you have to do it again.  The only downfall is that it only saves/converts up to 100MB. Click on the picture above to access the website.
(Thanks to a great 4th grade teacher for this one!)

Here you have to upload the demo version and you can do everything in the demo version for free. It will take a minute to install it and the big thing is that you have to have admin rights to do it on your laptop so I did it on my home desktop. Once you install, you press the record button and any YouTube movie you chose will automatically be recorded until you hit the stop recording button. Be sure to convert it to something your computer will read. I chose the Dell wmv. file again. Then, I just saved it onto a jump drive and brought it to school.

(Thanks to a fabulous friend for hunting up this info!)

When Does Level Matter? Being Efficient With Small Group Instruction by Franki Sibberson

A great article discussing the various ways in which to group students. 

Storybird Website

This website allows you to create your own story using existing art.  You can even publish and print them out.  How fun!